Texas State Softball: Close Game To California In NCAA Tournament Opener

by, Jen Lawson

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Texas State softball team dropped a close 1-0 game to California in the opening game of the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional Friday afternoon. Cal scored one unearned run in the bottom of the fourth inning to come away with the victory.

Texas State finished the afternoon with two hits, one from Kelli Baker in the top of the fourth inning and one by Kimberlin Naivar in the top of the seventh. Baker advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Naivar and that proved to be the furthest a Texas State base runner would advance all game.

The Bobcats got out of a jam in the bottom of the second inning as Cal put runners on first and second with one out. After tallying a strikeout for out number one in the inning, Randi Rupp forced a pop up and struck out another to get out of the inning.

Cal capitalized in the fourth after its lead-off batter doubled and advanced to third on a fielding error. The next batter hit a ball deep enough to centerfield to allow the runner at third to score.

Rupp pitched the complete game for Texas State as she falls to 29-13 on the year. She allowed just five hits in the setback to a Cal team who hit over .300 for the year.

WHO STOOD OUT

Randi Rupp / P / Sophomore / Mont Belvieu, Texas

Rupp struck out six in 6.0 innings of work for Texas State. The one run that scored was unearned for Rupp as her season ERA drops to 1.65. In the bottom of the second, Rupp worked out of a jam after having runners on first and second with just one out. She also worked out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth after Cal registered a pair of hits and a walk with two outs. She now has 322 strikeouts this season which is now the second most in a season in school history, surpassing Nicole Neuerburg’s total of 321 in 2005.

Kelli Baker / 2B / Senior / Atascocita, Texas

Baker recorded one of the two Bobcat hits Friday afternoon. Baker led the fourth inning off with a bloop single to right before advancing to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Kimberlin Naivar.

Kimberlin Naivar / LF / Junior / Mont Belvieu, Texas

Naivar led the top of the seventh off with a single through the left side to try and spark the Bobcat offense. Earlier in the game, she successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt to put Kelli Baker in scoring position for the ‘Cats.

SCORING

Bottom 4^th – Cal lead the inning off with a double to right center and ultimately advanced to third on a fielding error. The Golden Bears scored on the next at bat after a sacrifice fly to center. The run was unearned. (1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 0 left on base)

NOTES

• Texas State falls to 39-21 on the year and 2-2 all-time against the Cal Bears.
• All-time against Alabama, the ‘Cats are 0-2 and against Samford they are 0-1.
• Randi Rupp has now made 49 appearances this season which ranks third for most appearances in a year in Texas State history. One more and she will be tied for second all-time.
• All-time at the NCAA Tournament, Texas State is now 7-13. This is the seventh appearance in school history.

NEXT UP

Texas State awaits the loser of the game between No. 6 Alabama and Samford which is currently underway. The elimination game will be played at 4 p.m. CT Saturday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium. Live stats and a live ESPN3 broadcast will be available at www.txstatebobcats.com. The game can also be heard on the airwaves of 89.9 FM KTSW with Bill Culhane on the call.